How do I know about the Bloxworth 3HD (3 hander)?
Well? Earlier this week I was browsing around (as you do), went to the Elliot Brown tab I have in my browser and scrolled through the models. At the end of the current Bloxworths (44mm Chronograph Diver) I can across a Bloxworth 929-106-L26 Founders Edition, the like of which I had not seen before.
Reading the extensive description of how it was designed and its feature, along with it being an LE of 250 pieces (a first for Elliot Brown), I was intrigued and wondered if I might get a bit more information; how come its a Bloxworth? When will it be available? etc.
I therefore wrote an enquiring email to Alex (the Brown in Elliot Brown) who I've met on several previous occasions, and ended up with an exchange of emails in which he shared a realm of information about the watch, its development and some new features. Some of what Alex wrote is here;-
"Glad you like the new 3HD. I’m sure I say this every time (!) but that took ages to design; I remember standing in the garden talking to Ian on the phone last March, talking about the colourways…
This one's a bit like cooking: In some ways, the simpler the dish, the better it’s got to be. Eggs Benedict is dead simple and done well it’s yummy, but there’s nowhere to hide. And I think this watch is the same; because it’s quite an apparently simple design everything’s got to be on point in terms of proportions etc. because it’s all there to see.
But I think it turned out really well. The proportions and the little details are lovely; the polished surfaces here and there, and the Tropic pattern on the dial and the caseback. It really is a showstopper.
There’s also a brand new ‘Tropic’ rubber strap in production too that fit this and also the other models in the range that’ll be available soon too.
The reasoning behind calling it a Bloxworth is that we’re trying to keep our watch models in families for simplicity, and this model was designed to be a ‘divers watch’ in the same way that most people would think of the OG Bloxworth as a ‘divers watch’. The case architecture is also very Bloxworth in terms of its proportions and the facets on the shoulders too."
"The starting point was wondering what would a classic diver on a Tropic strap look like using our design language and the (basic) Bloxworth case shape as that’s a ‘divers’ watch.
— our cardinal markers, the shape of the indexes, the fitted strap, the proportions of the dial, elements of the EB logo etc etc. The spirit of a heyday-diver but done with our sense of proportion and our detailing, without it being a pastiche or a homage etc.
That Zuludiver Tropic looks pretty nicely done, especially at the money; some Tropic straps I’ve seen are a lot more than that.
It’ll be interesting to see what you think of ours! We’ve been wearing the protos for a while and they’re fab. They might even replace our webbing strap as my new favourite.
The Founders watches are just going through final QC at the moment I think so I’d expect them to be here early next month, with the rest of the range following a little later and yes, the Founders model will be serial numbered with a serial numbered card too."
Will I be buying one of the Founders Edition or shall I wait to get one of the regular range; several of which Alex reckons I'll like?
Answers on a Post Card please.
Guy
NB> Edit, Mon 27th Sep 15:10 hrs
Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 3:09 pm I've had a further chat with Alex this morning and he has asked me to point out;-
"the images I sent over are actual photos; they aren’t renders or CGIs etc.
They’re pro photos so they’re photographed and lit to bring out the details, but they are actual photos of the watch and I can say they are definitely representative of the watch itself."
NB> This refers to the three photos in my initial post (and as used on Elliot Brown's website).
Guy